Ivy Tech is not just a city resource

Etruth reports today that Mayor Dick Moore and Arvis Dawson of his administration met with Ivy Tech President Thomas Snyder to try to sway the state community college to build its new Elkhart location within the city limits, instead of in the burgeoning County Road 17 corridor as planned.

The short answer to this query is "not bloody likely." The location being suggested by the city is along Elkhart Ave where Elkhart Foundry was formerly located. This location is significantly smaller than the CR. 17 spot, and so is inadequate for the needs of the college. Ivy Tech is cramped in its current location, and it doesn't appear to us that the downtown spot would add much, nor would it allow for future expansion.

Contrary to Moore's comment that the CR 17 location is too far away from those who need Ivy Tech, it's actually more easily accessible from both Elkhart and Goshen than the current location is, and much more so than the city's proposed spot. Ivy Tech currently serves a large number of Goshen Students who would have faster access via CR 17 than they do now. Currently, some Ivy Tech classes are held in Goshen High School in the evening, but this situation isn't ideal. Locating along CR 17 would mean that all classes could meet where they have the full resources of the college available in the same building.

Moore touts such city advantages as proximity to the IUSB Elkhart Center, as well as the Riverwalk WiFi (which hasn't worked properly for at least two weeks according to Elkhart Review's experience). Neither of these is a huge drawing card for a community college offering more in the way of hands-on vocational training than IUSB does. WiFi, even if it does work, is superfluous for Ivy Tech, which would have its own high speed access anyway.

Our vote is for Ivy Tech to stay on the current plan, and continue working with the county as it has all along. Ivy Tech/Elkhart serves the entire county, and should locate itself where it can do so most effectively.

Beijing adds anti-smoking personnel

Breitbart.com reported that the city of Beijing is getting ready to add 40,000 smoking inspectors to its current complement of 60,000, to boost enforcement of a 12-year-old public smoking ban.

By any standard, 100,000 is a lot of official scolds running around just one city telling people they can't smoke in public.

These officials can't issue fines, but they can report establishments that are allowing smoking, and the potential fines that can be levied on businesses are around $700 -- a fairly large amount for the average Chinese person, I would assume.

Beijing's ban does not apply to restaurants, bars, or massage parlors, so apparently the Communist Chinese are offering a bit more freedom of choice for their citizens than the Elkhart City Council is willing to permit here. Nonetheless, it's good to know our leaders are taking a cue from such perennial defenders of personal freedom as the People's Republic of China.

An editorial note:

Last week the buffoons on the Elkhart Common Council passed the so-called "clean air" ordinance which is pretty much an anti-smoking ordinance. Reaction has been pretty strong on the anti-anti side, but ER hasn't had time to really weigh in. The small amount of good news is that the County Council has the uncommon good sense to refrain from making this a county-wide law, as much as the city governments and their associated hand-wringers would like.

The Truth ran a utterly nonsensical editorial about "fairness" related to this issue as well, and ER will be getting to these, but it will be a few days.

Smoke 'em if you've got 'em.

Alley Oops, Over and Out

Marshall King reports today on the reliable rumor that Alley Oop's restaurant on CR 17 in Elkhart has closed. While not a total tragedy, the restaurants (Goshen's closing too, we hear) will be a loss to the culinary landscape. Great, greasy burgers and onion rings made the old-fashioned drive-in way are not easy to come by. But ah well, the Elkhart City Council was probably going to train its meddling sights on unhealthy food next anyway.

Smoking Wars IV

The Elkhart Common Council is once again looking at imposing a citywide smoking ban in most "public" places (never mind that most of the restrictions are on private businesses). At a meeting Monday evening, covered by The Elkhart Truth, passions rose on both sides, including the obligatory witness who had had a relative die from second-hand smoke, and who wanted to make sure no one has to go through the same experience "ever again."

I have news. Someone WILL go through it again. People die, and no amount of lawmaking will change that. It's unfortunate, but we can't leglislate every potential heartache out of our civilization.

Hand in hand with this kind of nonsense is the argument that "if it saves just one life it will have been worth it." Really? I think the loss of freedoms that thousands or more died to preserve is a pretty big price to pay on the chance that a life might be saved, especially when it's impossible to measure this kind of result. We can't possibly know if we saved one life. Whose life? Where? It's an unmeasurable hypothetical outcome that is being used to justify curtailing rights. How stupid. How morally reprehensible. How fascist.

And there's one of the big rubs: the numbers are all so damn iffy. The original ordinance stated that 65,000 people die each year from second hand smoke. Never mind that fact that we kill far more people than this on our highways -- but, how the hell do we KNOW this? I think we don't . Non smokers get lung cancer for a variety of reasons, but I suspect the anti-smoking crowd attributes every one of these deaths to second-hand smoke. Hardly a fair, or honest, analysis.

The problem here is that the issue is largely misdefined. From the standpoint of the council, the issue should not be one of what is an exaggerated public health concern. Nor should it be an issue about smokers' rights and non-smokers' rights (neither exists). Rather, it is a problem of whether or not politically correct hysteria should be allowed to trample property rights. If the council doesn't stop this now, it will find itself dealing with further encroachments in the future. The irrational always try again. Especially if they get their way the first time.

Ruthmere Foundation & the Havilah Beardsley House

Some months ago, the Ruthmere Foundation purchased the Havilah Beardsley House, one-time home of the founder of Elkhart. It's the city's oldest home, and is now undergoing a restoration so that it can become a cultural and educational attraction and resource for the community.

The Ruthmere Foundation, the organization that operates the Ruthmere Museum, has just unveiled a new section of its website to tell a bit more about the history and plans for the Havilah House. Here's a direct link to it. You can also make a donation to the restoration effort online if you wish.

Tattoo who?

Local attorney Benjamin Pfaff has apparently been having difficulty remembering his name. He's enlisted the help of a Florida tattoo artist, however, and this should no longer be a problem. (Cell phone photo is of Ben's back -- we're told the letters are around 3 inches or so high).

Truth or Scam?

For a couple of weeks this month, at least until the weather got really hot, this woman could be seen every day, all day, at the intersection of U.S. 33 and Sunnyside, near the Martin's Concord store. Her problem, if real, is one with which I can sympathize, but I couldn't help thinking if she'd spend eight hours a day looking for a job instead of pacing the lane divider with a sign, she would probably improve her situation much more quickly. Jobs are available in Elkhart, even if they're not fabulous jobs. Does panhandling really pay that well? I wonder.

End of a very short era.

Requiem to frozen custard.

It's a cellphone picture but it spells the end for one of Elkhart's favorite Eastside summer spots. Ritter's is closed this year, and the rumor is that the owner simply didn't want to run it, and buyer to take over the franchise couldn't be found. Anyway, my source says it's actually headed for a wrecking ball, to be replaced by yet another bank branch. Is it possible we REALLY need another one of THOSE?

Re: second-hand smoke and other science crises

"Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you're being had."
- Michael Crichton

I ran across this quote today online, and although I'd read it before (it's either from a speech he gave or the endnotes to his novel State of Fear), it rings true to me today in Elkhart County. He's right -- scientific consensus surrounding emotional issues almost always results in some kind of cost to the public -- if not monetary, certainly in terms of reduced freedom, higher restrictions.

We have reached a point where broad agreement substitutes for real science, and where the idea that we shouldn't take the risk (as in the second-hand smoke debate), has more credence than any demands to prove WHY our rights should be restricted.

Every consensus results in a regulation or government oversight program, often set up on the thinnest of logic. Just because something is potentially bad for us does not mean we need to pass laws (and the requisite costs of enforcement) to prohibit it.

It's Moore vs Pettit in upcoming mayoral race

With today's primary, the municipal candidates' field is set, with longtime Democrat Party man Dick Moore vs local businessman and city councilman Jim Pettit heading the Republican ticket. The Elkhart Truth online (etruth.com) has a nice video piece on both candidates here (opens video player window -- video plays in Windows Media Player or RealPlayer).

Our impression is that this is an evenly matched race between two capable candidates. Jim Pettit has been on the Elkhart City Council for four years, and is a local businessman with a businessman's outlook on city problems. While some think he's been a bit too cold-hearted and businesslike (about the Elco, for example), it's our impression the rumors are wrong. In fact, Pettit came out positively for the new Elco plan (once there was a plan that appeared to make sense.) We think he has the energy to do a good job for the city and carry on many of the positive things outgoing Mayor Dave Miller has accomplished. He won't be afraid to make changes where needed, either.

Dick Moore has been a local Democrat fixture for many years, and has long experience in getting things done on a day-to-day basis. This experience could serve Elkhart well, particularly in such badly neglected areas as street repair. Moore has also indicated an orientation toward fiscal responsibility and making adjustments in the city's administrative makeup.

On Sunday, The Elkhart Truth endorsed Democrat Arvis Dawson for that party's nomination (they favored Pettit on the GOP side), citing Dawson's "energy". Our impression was that this was Stephanie Gattman's codeword for "younger." Nothing against Dawson, but we feel this was quite unfair to a guy like Moore who still has a lot to offer the city. Remember Stephanie, 60 is the new 40. At least primary voters showed more sense.

For once, it's nice to see a mayoral contest that presents two capable, if differently skilled, candidates. Elections in the recent past have been rather lopsided, with one side or the other (or both) having extremely weak candidates, presenting voters with a "lesser of two evils" choice. This time around, the motto can truly be "may the best man win."

The only downside to tonight's primary election was turnout. Turnout for municipal primaries is typically low, but this was ridiculous. Let's hope the turnout this fall for the "real deal" is better.

It's going to be an interesting race, so stay tuned.

Elco rescue and renovation finally a priority

Today's Elkhart Truth ran a great story by my friend Marcia Fulmer about the upcoming renovation of Elkhart's Elco Theatre, along with a nice history of the venerable old building, it's ups and downs, etc. The announcement of the $13.5MM project is here.

The history piece has some of the photos from the print version, but some of the really rare old historical photos are missing online, and there's an odd conglomeration of photos from the Elkhart Jazz Festival instead. If you have a chance to look at the printed paper from today, do so. It's a job well done by Marcia and The Truth.

As usual there are some naysayers who feel as though the Elco is not worth saving, or that the money should go to "help poor people" or some other thing. I say nonsense. Elkhart's cultural life has suffered a good bit with the loss of companies like Miles, Whitehall and others. Arts funding has not been as strong since the town lost the upper-management types who patronized the symphony and other venues. Jack Boyd Smith and Gaska Tape, as well as Coachmen Industries, the Rex and Alice Martin Foundation and others have provided a lot of great support, but they can't do everything, especially without a focal point in the community that says "here's where the arts live -- here's where your money goes." For years, the Elco (along with the late, lamented EHS Auditorium) was that focal point. With this project, it can be again.

The arts are a tremendous addition to quality of life in any community. When the quality of life is high, more industries and business will locate here, and more quality individual will do so as well. It's a win-win for everyone. This is a no-brainer, especially when the alternative could be yet a nother vacant lot with nothing in it to attract people downtown.

The city owes a huge debt of gratitude to Jack Cittadine, who headed up the study group, as well as those on the study group itself, for providing some great direction and an actual plan of attack. Long live the Elco.

Smoking Wars III

Richard Pedler, Chairman of Tobacco Control of Elkhart County, retorts to the smoking ban critics in today's Elkhart Truth. Protesting that the ban is really a "clean air bill", doesn't negate the fact that it's an assault on property rights.

I find Mr. Pedler's statement that the Goshen ordinance "is only the beginning,' is perhaps more honest than he might like it to be. Folks who want to use the law to control the behavior of others are never satisfied. It's ALWAYS "only the beginning" for them. Once public places (somehow private businesses have ben reclassified by this bunch) are conquered, I fully expect home and car inspections to be proposed next. No smoking on your front porch, Pops.

Unfortunately, Tobacco Control of Elkhart County's activities are funded by money that came from the infamous tobacco company lawsuits, which were in essence, legal shakedowns that made a number of trial lawyers huge sums of money.

So, in effect the tobacco companies are forced to pay full-time people who work against them, while people who just want to be left alone don't get any state sanctioned grants to defend their property rights, which the state actually IS supposed to uphold.

Truth defensive about anti-smoking stance

Our letter speaking out against smoking bans appeared in The Elkhart Truth Saturday, and already, the paper is feeling a little heat. And it's defending itself. To be fair, The Elkhart Truth is duly noting some of its online criticism, and presenting a good bit of it on the editorial page.

But, we were struck by this little closer to today's editorial, following a reader's comment that ban proponents are "full of it."

We're full of something, all right. Either the hot air or the secondhand smoke that ban critics continue to blow.

Nice. It seems when your readers disagree with your position, it's time to insult them.

Elkhart Express having another strong season

Another win last night against Seattle, with new team member Glen Worley. Minor league professional basketball is a ton of fun, and Coach Beathea deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing this big slice of "quality of life" to Elkhart.

Smoking Wars II

WNDU report highlights Richard Pedler's plans to start a Clean Air Elkhart committee to restrict smoking in Elkhart. Mr. Pedler and nanny-staters of his ilk need to start analyzing the true and/or imagined dangers of second-hand smoke, and start considering the rights of people. Cigarette smoking is legal, and the smoking bans are an attempt to make the activity de facto illegal.

Smoking Wars

Tuesday night, the Goshen City Council passed an ordinance banning smoking in most public places. While I don't advocate smoking (who does, really?), I feel that adults should get to make their own decisions. I also find the hysteria over second-hand smoke to be pretty much overstated, scientifically unsound, and well, not really the point. I sent the following to The Truth, whose editorial page has consistently supported these rules, including a possible state-wide law.

In the movie "Basic Instinct," Sharon Stone asks, after lighting up in a police station, "What are you going to do? Arrest me for smoking?" It was laughable then. But not today.

In an ill-advised, scientifically weak, and some would say, unconstitutional move, the Goshen City Council has cast its vote for a smoking ban that restricts the rights of citizens to do what they wish on their own property. And not insignificantly, they have done virtually nothing to protect the health of the community. Good work, folks.

In 1975, the New England Journal of Medicine determined that even in those smoke-filled days, a non-smoker would have to sit in a bar for 240 hours straight in order to get the effect of ONE cigarette. If someone is sitting in a bar that long, my guess is he's got bigger issues than a little second-hand smoke. Today, with far fewer smokers around, the risks have to be significantly lower.

The second-hand smoke health argument is rife with misinformation, much of it based on a 1993 EPA report that was summarily thrown out of court because it was such bad research. Even the most recent surgeon general's report isn't as convincing as proponents report. (Yes, I've actually read it.)

If the Goshen City Council, Elkhart County or the State of Indiana want to do something about smoking, perhaps they should make it completely illegal. Instead, they have been cowed and confused into passing rules that force business owners to act as policemen in conflict with their own property rights. Proponents argue that business owners won't actually experience a loss of revenue if smoking is banned. Really? Maybe. But I've got news for the hand-wringers: it's nobody's business but the business owner's to make these determinations. In short, they should butt out.

Ron Troyer of the Elkhart City Council has commended the Goshen Council for being "leaders in this field." I have news for Mr. Troyer: it's a very old field. It's called overreaching, dictatorial government hiding behind so-called "public interest." It's called blatant disregard for rights. Mr. Troyer would do well to rethink his position.

As should The Truth. It mystifies me why this paper, which depends for its very existence on constitutional guarantees of liberty, is so consistently in favor of regulating the rights of others.

A new look, a new idea, a new local medium

This is my beginning at formally commenting on events and issues in and around Elkhart Indiana. Local media have their own agenda, and this is a chance to advance mine.

I'm a libertarian, very often aligning with the Republican party, but not always. I find that the local newspaper, the Elkhart Truth (or The Truth, as it is now called) has too often become a vehicle for a liberal/progressive agenda (I'm speaking mainly of the editorial page, but their news judgement reflects this as well), and I feel that The Truth fails to pursue some issues when digging deeper is the right thing to do.

It's not my goal, however, to simply be a critic of The Truth. I also want to report, retort and present a point of view for its own sake. A point of view not reflected in most local media outlets.

Enough explanation. This blog will evolve, certainly, and I hope it gets some readership.